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News.com.au
06-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Warwick Farm preview: Trainer John Thompson expects Hellbent On You to keep her consistent form going
Trainer John Thompson has plenty of admiration for consistent mare Hellbent On You and expects her to make her presence felt again when she returns to Warwick Farm. The four-year-old mare kicked off her campaign with a strong closing win from Formal at Hawkesbury before returning to metropolitan company with a neck third behind Seascape on the Kensington. Hellbent On You then finished a nose second behind progressive filly Candlewick over 1200m at Warwick Farm on April 16. 'I have been very pleased with her runs this campaign. She is a very reliable mare,' said Thompson. 'As rule, when mares are in form they tend to hold it and she seems to be in good order since her last run.' Candlewick holds the inside and beats Hellbent On You by a whisker at Warwick Farm! ðŸ'Œ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 16, 2025 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! The daughter of Hellbent has drawn barrier 7 in the TAB Handicap (1300m) with top apprentice Braith Nock to continue his association with her. 'Barrier doesn't really matter to her. She is pretty tractable,' he said. 'If she draws wide, she can get back or if she draws well, she can sit closer. Having that versatility helps with her consistency. 'It's a straight run to the corner at Warwick Farm so you can be three-deep. 'Braith is a ripper. He is very good jockey. 'He is getting better all the time because he us having success and he will keep riding winners. 'I'd say he's the leading apprentice this year.' Thompson expects stablemate Clear Proof to bounce back to form in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap (1300m). The son of Justify caused a boilover on debut when he won at $101 on the Kensington last July and followed up with a second to Gatsby's in the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill. He finished own the track at his next two starts before a spell and a lingering issue has impacted his two runs this time in but Thompson feels he is over that now. 'He needed gelding. His first couple of runs were good but he was very colty,' he said 'We persisted a little bit because he showed ability but in the end, Chad Schofield and Craig Williams both said, he needs gelding. 'Unfortunately, this time in, he pulled a front plate off in his second trial and trod on the toe clip. Clear Proof at any old price! 🤯 That's $126 TAB Fixed Odds... to be precise! @JTRacingRwik and @SchofieldChad with a surprise win in the second at Randwick Kensington. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 17, 2024 'I thought he was right at Warwick Farm last start. He was sound when he trotted up but under pressure in the race, Nash (Rawiller) said he was still feeling it a bit. 'He wasn't lame or sore but just wasn't giving a hundred per cent. 'He's had another couple of weeks of foot growth and he is right now. I would expect a big improvement from him. Thompson's has two two-year-olds entered for the meeting but is likely to scratch Vingt Neuf Noir from the fillies edition, the Schweppes Plate (1000m) after she drew barrier 13. 'I will probably save her until next week and go to Scone for the Inglis Challenge,' he said. 'She is a really nice filly and one for the black book. 'She has been trialling nicely and will run well when she races but will improve with the more racing she does.' He will saddle up Ellismayne who makes his debut in the colts and geldings division, the Vinnie Three-Time Champion Sire Plate (1000m). 'He's a nice horse. The 1000m might be a bit short for him but he is a horse to follow,' he said 'He always showed that had something but he just needed gelding. 'This is his first preparation as a gelding and you can see the difference in his attitude. He is more professional.' â– â– â– â– â– Having progressed through his country grades in good style, trainer Donna Scott is hoping her talented gelding Villasaurus can take the next step and measure up in town. The lightly-raced four-year-old was a TAB Highway winner at Rosehill last November but faces a stronger opposition when he steps out in the Drinkwise Mile Benchmark 72 (1600m). Villasaurus was impressive winning a Class 3 Handicap at his home track of Albury three weeks ago to earn himself a trip to Sydney. After settling behind the leader, he got a run between horses on straightening and was eased down to score by over a length from Exceedingly Hot. 'We knew if he won it meant he was no longer eligible for Highways but it would give us a mark on where he is at, said Scott. 'He won well and with his rating in the country, we are limited as to what races he can run in. 'Now we will look to set the bar a bit higher and test him hence why he is in a Benchmark 72 in town. Villasaurus with a big win in the opener! Tyler Schiller combines with Donna Scott! @DScottRacing @G1TySchil â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) November 2, 2024 'Obviously, you don't get the Chris Waller horses in Highways where he has five runners in this race. 'We will get another guide on where we are at with him.' The son of Villermont hasn't had much luck go his way this preparation and has been restricted to just two starts since first trialling at Benalla on February 17. He was trapped three-wide without cover when resuming in the SDRA Country Championships Qualifier at Wagga on March 1 where he went down by a length when third to Canny Hell. He was then seven weeks to his next run at Albury after missing the Country Championships Wildcard at Goulburn on March 23. 'Fitness probably just told on him in the end being first-up in the Qualifier,' said Scott. 'If I knew was going to draw the outside barrier, I probably would have given him another barrier trial leading into it. 'I thought we were a chance in the Wildcard but the truck broke down halfway to Goulburn and we missed the race. 'He has had a bit of a muck around preparation but hopefully all the bad luck is behind us now.'
News.com.au
04-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Hawkesbury Saturday
News Corp racing expert Mitch Cohen has analysed all the performances from Saturday's Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting and found a few worth following. FIVE TO FOLLOW AERODROME (1st, Race 3) Two wins from two by this promising son of Ole Kirk after his determined victory in the Clarendon Stakes. Stakes tests await in Queensland and he's going to make his presence felt. ✈ï¸� Aerodrome flies to remain unbeaten and take the Clarendon Stakes at @hawkesburyrc! @MFreedmanRacing | @Reganbayliss — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 HEREWARD (2nd, Race 3) Take nothing away from the Aerodrome but this juvenile deserves plenty of credit after leading the field up and sticking on for second on debut over 1400m. He won't be a maiden for long. JUST PARTY (2nd, Race 6) A gelding operation appears to have done the trick with this Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained galloper making an excellent return to just come up short in the Hawkesbury Guineas. He's in for a great prep. ðŸŒ� Media World hangs on in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Guineas and makes it two in a row! @SnowdenRacing1 | @G1TySchil | @YulongInvest — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 Burst through closer to the inside before getting gunned down by a race fit horse in Dragonstone with In Flight close up as well. It was a more than acceptable return and bodes well for the prep ahead over the winter months. HOLLYWOOD HERO (4th, Race 10) It was a race dominated by on-speed runners but he ran on well enough fresh from a break to just miss the placings. He's not a noted first-up performer so he looks set for a fruitful campaign. A great battle between Cool Jakey and Gallant Star in the last at @hawkesburyrc, with Cool Jakey the winner - giving @PrideRacing a treble and Adam Hyeronimus a double! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– STEWARDS SAY Starboard (Race 1): Hung in throughout the event and proved difficult to ride. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities apart from losing its off-fore plate during running. Damien (Race 3): Did not respond to his riding and was disappointing in the manner in which it closed off the race. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Coco Jamboo (Race 7): A power malfunction of the barriers delayed the start significantly and the mare was ultimately flat-footed when they jumped, losing five lengths. Stewards placed a warning on her barrier manners. Celui (Race 9): Was found to have bled for the first time and is now banned from racing for three months. Fire Star (Race 9): Did not handle the Heavy track and was further disadvantaged by being obliged to race close to the rail in the home straight. No abnormalities were found but his post-race condition will be followed up. â– â– â– â– â– THE CLOCK SAID Aerodrome (Race 3): Trailed pacesetter Hereward in the run and did his best work late to overpower the David Payne-trained galloper. Aerodrome's last 600m was 34.86 seconds with runner-up Hereward in 35.22. Able Willie (Race 4): Only had one runner behind him at the 600m before surging home to win. He was the only horse to break 34 in the race, surging home with a last 600m of 33.75 seconds. Willing and able! Able Willie wins first up for @cwallerracing and @nashhot ðŸ'� @hawkesburyrc — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 Media World (race 6): Was able to control the speed from the front in the Hawkesbury Guineas before holding on with a last 600m of 34.81 seconds. Runner-up Just Party ran the same distance in a faster 34.06 but couldn't run him down. City Of Lights (race 7): Camped in behind the leaders, this mare surged home in the Hawkesbury Crown with a last 600m of 33.32. Defending champ Coco Jamboo missed the start before finishing off in a race-best 33.13. â– â– â– â– â– TRACK TALK 'I have never had a horse with a pedigree like hers. It's a pedigree made in heaven, a half-sister to Winx by one of the best stallions (Deep Impact) to stand on the planet.' Joe Pride on City Of Lights. 'We were very tempted to geld him but Yulong wanted to give me one more chance with him as a colt and I'm glad they did.' Peter Snowden on Media World. 'I'm hoping he could emerge as a Stradbroke Handicap – he's heading in the right direction, that's for sure.' Snowden again. 'I could hardly pull him up after the post. He has a bright future.'' Regan Bayliss on Aerodrome. 'I will see how he pulls up but all going well we will look at Brisbane now for Aerodrome.' Michael Freedman. 'You could expect him to half not want to be here but he was better than last week.'' Nash Rawiller after Punch Lane 's latest win. Punch Lane leads all the way in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Gold Cup and wins in style!ðŸ�† That's also a double to @nashhot ðŸ'° @FreedmanRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– YOU CAN BET ON IT Hawkesbury Crown City Of Lights was well supported and got backed into $6 after opening at $11. There was winning $2000 wager at $5.50 placed. Hawkesbury Gold Cup All the money was for Punch Lane and the favourite saluted at $2.30 with a weight of dough behind it. Big wins included a $10,000 bet on the winner at $2.30 and a separate $9000 wager placed at $2.20. Hawkesbury Gold Rush Dragonstone was on the fourth line of TAB betting but had drifted out from $6 to $7.50 by the time it saluted. One TAB punter had $2000 each-way on the winner at $5/$1.85. â– â– â– â– â– THE SCHEDULE Monday: Grafton, Gunnedah Tuesday: Kembla Grange Wednesday: Warwick Farm Thursday: Goulburn, Wyong Friday: Coffs Harbour Saturday: Kembla Grange, Gosford, Lismore, Glen Innes Sunday: Mudgee, Queanbeyan â– â– â– â– â– RON DUFFICY'S HAWKESBURY SNAPSHOT RUN OF THE DAY Punch Lane has had a real crack doing it both ends winning over the past three weeks in a row. He is in rare form and is a credit to his trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. FORGET THEY RAN No dramatic hard luck stories on the day although I'd be forgiving of horses that got back and had to make their run out wide while the well fancied Celui bled which explains his failure. THE BLACKBOOK Aerodrome is a lovely two-year-old that could well be a force during the Queensland Winter Carnival while Just Party was terrific first-up as a gelding and might be ready to go through his grades this campaign. Nash Rawiller did it best with a riding double and two close seconds.
News.com.au
04-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Matt Dunn was surprised when Lubrication upset the big guns to win the $1m The Archer slot race in Rockhampton
Trainer Matt Dunn admitted even he was surprised when his 'Class 3' gelding Lubrication upset the big guns to land the $565,000 winner's cheque with a convincing victory in the $1 million The Archer slot race in Rockhampton on Sunday. With jockey Jake Bayliss on board, Lubrication ($18) came from a fair way back to beat a batch of classy southern raiders, including Bjorn Baker's star pair Sandpaper and Iowna Merc, to finish ahead of the Tony Gollan-trained Comrade Rosa ($11) and Transatlantic ($5) in the 1300m race. 'He's racing better now than he ever has in his life,' Murwillumbah trainer Dunn said after the upset victory for slot holder Max Whitby, the ex-Sydney racing identity who now lives on the Gold Coast. 'It was a proper win. To be honest I'm a little bit surprised, in a happy way. 'It was very exciting, unexpected and one of those thrills that come up every now and then.' The bookmakers clearly didn't rate five-year-old Lubrication, which was paying up to $40 early last week, following his last-start third in a Class 3 1400m race at Eagle Farm on April 19. 'Even when he got beat the other day (at Eagle Farm), Max was at the races and he said 'I want him for my slot' and I said 'sweet, no worries',' Dunn said. 'He's a Class 3 horse but I'm happy to go to a set weights plus penalties race, and take them on for that sort of money.' Lubrication wins the Archer at double figure odds for @mattydunnracing with @jakebayliss94 in the saddle! ðŸ'� Whitby Bloodstock nails it with their slot runner! ðŸ'° — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 4, 2025 Dunn was too busy preparing his horses for the Queensland Winter Carnival to be in Rockhampton but he joked his stable representative Wayne Wheatley would do the hard celebrating for him. 'I would've loved to have gone but I've just got too much on here. Not too many celebrations but I'm sure my man up there (Wheatley) will be celebrating hard,' Dunn said. 'The horse is coming home at 6.30am and he's on an 8am flight so I hope they both make it.' Three-time Group 1 winner Bayliss was held up at various stages throughout the race but when a split opened up, Lubrication surged to the line and never looked like losing it from there. Both Dunn and Whitby are the major owners of Lubrication, who was bought for $400,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Dunn had every intention of spelling Lubrication but he might be having second thoughts given the gelding is in 'career-best form'. 'He's got a few miles under his belt,' Dunn said. 'The idea was to give him a break but he's racing so well and he looks so good. 'He beat some decent horses there and beat them fair and square. 'Who knows where he ends up? Maybe races like the Glasshouse Handicap (over 1400m on the Sunshine Coast on July 5). 'It depends what they do with him regarding his rating. It's always difficult to stick horses in the paddock when they're racing in career-best form.' Meanwhile, Rob Heathcote has confirmed that 25-time Group 1 winning rider Tim Clark will partner Rothfire in the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m) major on May 17. The 2020 JJ Atkins winner Rothfire will push on to the Doomben 10,000 after an impressive fourth in Saturday's Group 2 Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm in his first race since late December when he finished fourth in The Buffering, won by Transatlantic.
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Punch Lane earns Big Dance qualification by winning the Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Punch Lane, Sydney racing's iron horse, delivered another knockout blow to his chasing rivals at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Champion jockey Nash Rawiller sent Punch Lane straight to the front early in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) and from that moment their opponents were racing for second prize. This was Punch Lane's third start in as many weeks and he was backing up after leading throughout to win at Randwick last Saturday. It was a case of 'rinse and repeat' for the Anthony and Sam Freedman -trained Punch Lane in the feature race at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting. 'Tough as nails this horse, it's been a great training effort,'' Rawiller said. 'Three weeks in a row, not many can do that, but he has come here today and was first out of the gates and first onto the bridle. 'You could expect him to half not want to be here but he was better than last week.'' Punch Lane ($2.30 favourite) gave nothing else a chance in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup as he maintained his advantage throughout to win by 1-1/4 lengths from Osipenko ($9) with My Oberon ($14) a half-length away third. Matcha Latte, winner of the Provincial-Midway Championships Final, was a brave fourth just in front of Tavi Time. Punch Lane leads all the way in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Gold Cup and wins in style!ðŸ�† That's also a double to @nashhot ðŸ'° @FreedmanRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 Rawiller, who rode a brace of winners after scoring earlier on Able Willie, won his second successive Hawkesbury Gold Cup following his win on Just Folk 12 months ago. In fact, Rawiller has had a lot of success at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting over the years having also won three Hawkesbury Crowns on Coco Jamboo (2024), Sweet Deal (2021) and More Strawberries (2012), and two Hawkesbury Guineas on Hawaii Five Oh (2023) and Royal Discretion (2008). Rawiller predicted the Freedman father and son training partnership will make a huge success of their decision to open a 24-box Sydney satellite stable at Randwick to complement their main stable base at Mornington in Victoria. 'Anthony hasn't been up here for long and is learning the ropes, I guess, in Sydney a little but I'm sure he will get good support, he's a top trainer,'' Rawiller said. Rawiller's racing colours of royal blue, gold armbands and cap of the William Street Syndicate are also synonymous success. The ownership group has raced many outstanding gallopers including 1982 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner Gurner's Lane, trained by the late Geoff Murphy. The Freedman family has trained for the syndicate of mainly Melbourne-based businessmen for many years including most notably the outstanding sprinter Santa Ana Lane who Anthony prepared to win five Group 1 races including the 2018 TJ Smith Stakes and Stradbroke Handicap, and 2019 VRC Sprint Classic. Hall of Famer Lee Freedman trained Paris Lane for the syndicate to win the 1994 Caulfield Cup and Mackinnon Stakes. Punch Lane's Hawkesbury Gold Cup win ensures the gelding is qualified for the $3 million The Big Dance at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day in November. A rising six-year-old by champion racehorse and sire So You Think, Punch Lane scored his eighth win from just 20 starts and took his career earnings to nearly $670,000. Anthony or Sam Freedman weren't on track for Punch Lane's Hawkesbury Gold Cup win but stable representative Shane Hourigan said the five-year-old was the 'perfect horse' to back up quickly and still perform at his best. 'This wasn't an afterthought to back up from Randwick into the Hawkesbury Gold Cup – and he is probably the right horse to do it with,'' Hourigan said. 'He does his work, eats, sleeps, then goes out in the morning and does it all again. 'We didn't have to do too much with him during the week, he's fit and this was his third week in a row. 'So, we just kept him ticking over during the week, making sure the horse was happy. Fresh is best as they say.'' Hourigan said Rawiller was able to dictate terms to suit on the front-running Punch Lane. 'In his races, this horse makes his own luck,'' he said. 'Nash gave him a great ride, jumped nicely, controlled the pace then kicked and had too much for them. 'He was always doing things on his own terms.''
News.com.au
02-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Newcastle preview: Ideal conditions has Los Padres well placed to start his campaign with consecutive victories
Luck wasn't on the side of Los Padres during the spring but he hit back this campaign with a tough first-up win and looks well placed to go back-to-back when he heads to the Hunter Valley. The Mitchell Beer -trained gelding was still caught wide with cover before closing strongly down the centre of the track and dug deep to score in a tight finish from Divine Vicky and Headstock at Kembla two weeks ago. Los Padres was ridden by Beer's new stable apprentice, Holly Durnan, who sticks with the gelding in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1250m). 'He didn't have the best run that day. He was caught deep and was a bit keen in the middle stages but he was quite tough late,' said George Carpenter, assistant trainer to Beer. Los Padres storms home from @goulburnraces! @beermitchell â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 1, 2024 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He is a lovely horse who had a lot of bad luck last preparation so it was good to get the win first-up with him. It was a good confidence booster for him' The four-year-old son of Zoustar has drawn ideally in barrier 4 to allow him to settle closer and a wet track is right up his alley. Los Padres has had two starts on heavy tracks for a third to Navy Blood at Newcastle last May and he resumed last campaign with a third to Let's Go Again and Mogul Monarch under 61kg at Kembla. 'He has drawn a perfect gate in barrier 4 and doesn't have to settle as far back. He should just get a really nice run in transit,' he said. 'I think he's a really good chance again.' New stablemate Shehasattitude also lines up in the race. She beat just one home behind Candlewick at her stable debut at Warwick Farm just over two weeks ago but a drop in grade and a wet track can see her bounce back. 'She was first-up off a long break and has taken a lot of benefit from the run,' Carpenter said. The four-year-old won three of her first six starts including a win from Know Thyself last May. 'She has plenty of ability and has a great attitude in her work at home,' he said. An early double on the day for @MitchBeerRacing and @DanBeasley111 ðŸ'Œ This time with November Falls! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 28, 2023 'Whether she runs here or wait for Warwick Farm next week, that decision is yet to be made but she will be competitive wherever she goes.' November Falls was game in defeat on a heavy track at Newcastle last week but a better draw can see her go one better in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1890m) where she has drawn barrier 1. After settling midfield, she made a move from the 600m to go out after the free-rolling leader and was very wide on the bend before Magicon by a length. 'It was a nice run last start. She gave everything she had and was only run down by a horse who had a nice run behind her and peeled off her back,' said Carpenter. 'She gets everything she needs this weekend to go one better. 'She has drawn a nice gate, a wet track and the distance suits. I'm sure she will be right there in the finish. 'She is pretty adaptable. She could either lead or take a sit just behind the leader. 'With the rail out nine metres, you would think it will benefit those horses up on the speed.' 'He's like a fine wine. He keeps getting better with age,' he said. 'He gets a wet track which is ideal and he has drawn quite well.'
